Golf tee



W. J. PUGH June 11, 1929.

GOLF TEE I Filed July 14, 1927 jzvengari ZMZ'ZZZZUR j g Q Patented June11', 1929.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM J. PUGH, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

eons r1111.

Application filed July 14,

This invention relates to improvements in golf tees.

It contemplates more especially the provision of a golf tee capable ofsustaining a golf ball at a uniform elevation without impairing thedriving efl'ort imparted thereto.

Numerous types of golf tees having heretofore been proposed, but thesehavenot proven entirely satisfactory in that they are usually embeddedin the soil or grass by virtue of a peg which does not insure a uniformelevation of a ball sustained thereon.

Further, driving tees are of varying hardness and in some instances itis quite impossible to readily embed a golf tee therein without exertinga tremendous effort. Moreover, golf tees are usually displacedresponsive to driving a ball therefrom, and a new tee is ordinarilyrequired with each drive in'that the discovery thereof is futile in mostinstances.

One object of the present invention is to simplify the construction andimprove the operation of devices of the character mentioned.

Another object is the provision of a tee for sustaining a ball at auniform elevation above surfaces of varying hardness.

Still another object is the provision of means in association with a teewhich enables the latter to be embedded a uniform distance forsustaining a golf ball thereon.

A further object is the provision of a tee having embedding means mergedtherein to define an abrupt shoulder for limiting the extent ofembedment.

A still further object is the provision of a finder in association witha golf tee effective to enable the discovery thereof, and to serve as aguide for the assumption of a proper body stance.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following descriptionof an illus trated embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view in elevation of a device embodying featuresof the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 1; a

Figure 3 is a modified embodiment of the device which enables a tee tobe soil-embedded for a predetermined extent only, thereby insuring thesupport of a ball at a uniform elevation; and

Figure 4 is a view showing the function of the finder as an indicationofthe proper stance 1927. Serial No. 205,585.

to be assumed with .respect to the ball sustained on the tee.

The structure selected for illustration comprises a body 10 of anysuitable material such as rubber shaped in an suitable manner to definea substantially circular base 11 which conically terminates in anupstanding, axially disposed neck 12 diverging gradually to present asubstantially circular, disk-shaped v supportlng' surface 13. Thesurface 13 is preferably provided with a concavity 14 of sufiicientdepth to properly sustain a golf ball thereon without permitting theaccidental re moval thereof. It is important to provide a comparativelyshallow concavit which will not interfere with thedriving e ort impartedto the ball, since the interference offered by the concavity 14 to theball should bereduced to a minimum in that it would otherwise retard thedrive and incidentally result in a marked displacement of the teeresponsive to a blow imparted to the ball.

It is necessary or at least highly desirable that the tee be ofcomparatively light weight so that it will not unnecessarily encumberthe player. The weight thereof is materially decreased, in thisinstance, by providing a conical cavity 15 in the base 11 of the member10, efiective to receive any obstruction such as grass which is likelyto be on the surface otherwise contacting therewith. Thus the cavity 15serves a dual purpose, in that it insures the proper instantaneoussupport of the tee upon which'the golf ball rests, and also materallydecreases the weight thereof.

To enable the tee to be readily located subsequent to driving the golfballtherefrom, a finder 16 is associated with the body 10 in anyappropriate manner, the finder consisting preferably of a tape or cordof any suitable material such as rubber, cotton, or the like, which isdiscernibly colored with respect to the grass or soil usually appearingon a golf course. The finder 16 is attached, in this instance, to thebase 11 of the body 10 by virtue of an aperture 17 provided therein toreceive the finder 16 therethrough, the finder having a knottedextremity 18 to enable the string to be conveniently anchored thereto.

The finder 16 not only serves the purpose of enabling the tee to beconveniently located responsive to a drive, but also serves to assistthe player in addressing the ball correctly in that the finder 16 may bedisposed normal to the direction in which the ball is selectively d riren (Figure 4) so as to enable the player to position himself withrespect to various well detincd rules known to all professional golfcrs,since the closed, open and square stance are well recognized positionssupposed to be eonsistient with good driving. Further, the tinder may beof suflicient length to permit its attaclnnent to the body of theplayer, thereby avoiding the discomfort of looking for the teesubsequent to driving.

The modified embodiment disclosed in Figure 3 is especially adapted foruse on grass and mat tees, it comprising a body having a frusto-conicalportion defining a neck 12 which merges into a disk 13' provided with aconcavity 14 for sustaining the ball thereon. As shown, the body 10'terminates in an enlarged portion 19 which surrounds an axially embeddedpin 20 therein to serve as an obstruction for limiting the extent towhichthe peg can be embedded in the soil. In this manner, the body 19serves to insure the support of a golf ball on the disk 13 at a uniformdistance from the soil, in that the extremity of the portion 19 contactswith the soil when the tee is properly positioned.

To enable a suitable finder to be attached thereto, the enlarged bodyportion 19 is provided with an annular groove 21 which receives thelooped extremity 22 of the finder 16'. The finder 16' is preferablycomposed of elastic material so that the looped extremity 22 thereofwill snugly embrace the groove 21, thereby rendering the tinder readilydetachablo therefrom.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention hereinspecifically described without departing from or sacrificing any of theadvantages of the invention described in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A golf tee comprising a head, the upper surface of which is providedwith a rest for a golf ball, said head being supported upon a downwardlydivergent neck leading to an enlarged base, the lower surface of whichis frusto-couically formed with a blunt apex extending downwardly; and apointed peg lead ing from the apex of the bottom of said base.

2. A golf tee comprising a head, the upper surface of which is providedwith a rest for a golf ball, said head being supported upon a downwardlydivergent neck leading to an enlarged base, the lower surface of whichis frusto-conically formed with a blunt apex extending downwardly; apointed peg leading from the apex of the bottom of said'base; and afinder having a looped elastic extremity embracing said base, said basebeing provided with an annular groove to receive the loop of saidfinder.

WILLIAM J. PUGH.

